The Blanketfort (crying and throwing up) - The Official Solas Thread [Spoilers]

It is said in response to the question of how he controlled the anchor. He says he did it in the same way as he did back when he stopped it killing them in Haven but that he is stronger than he was then, which would be necessary considering the anchor seems to have increased in power too. So in a way, he is simply saying "I am now stronger, so it is easier for me than it was then."

Now he admits to Flemeth that he gave the orb to Corypheus because he was too weak to unlock it himself but he was still able to control the anchor in Haven, even though he was weak. This makes it difficult to know from those words alone, just what he means when he says he is stronger. Clearly, he has grown in power as evidenced by how easily he neutralises the Qunari. If the Inquisitor tries to attack him, he deals with that as well. Now if the Inquisitor tries to attack Flemeth, she doesn't actually use her own magic against them but either controls Morrigan to prevent it or invokes the power of the geas. Yet she is possessed by Mythal, so I am not sure exactly how much power that gives beyond a regular powerful mage except longevity and the ability to shapeshift into a dragon. The Hero was able to defeat her as well, despite the presence of Mythal. So I do question exactly what Solas gets from absorbing Mythal's power. Knowledge certainly and possibly the ability to regenerate his own power more quickly but apart from that I'm really not sure.

I was actually more interested in the sword image behind the eye. Because you are right, depicting visius (as in, JUST the eye) would not be all that odd for any early Inquisition, Andrastian and/or barbarian members who may have been around way back when. especially if it looked like a sun. But the sword of mercy (or in ancient times, a symbol of Tevinter's brand of justice)? Judex? In Andraste's time that would very much be a no-no unless you actually supported Ancient Tevinter. And while the sword's meaning did eventually change after Andraste's death, I imagine that anyone who was actually present and/or heard of Andraste's actual execution would still associate the sword with its Tevinter symbolism. It was, after all, Tevinter's verdict that killed Andraste off. And it is unclear of when, exactly, belief in the tales of Andraste's ascension would take root in the faith of her then-followers. It was likely a more gradual shift, after orators were able to spin her death a different way.

Although maybe the sword and eye combo was originally a warning? Or perhaps a symbol of failure? But that is assuming the painting was made pre-Inquisition (either one). Regardless, given how much Skyhold has been inhabited and reinhabited over the years (which would account for any tower number discrepancies we may see in its depiction because of rebuilding(s)), it is plausible and even likely that Andraste's followers were there at some point. I just don't think they were responsible for the room painting in this case. Overlooking the bear-lady painting in the barn is one thing, but overlooking something that would be of great interest to a Chantry scholar is another issue entirely because they would more than likely want to investigate why an "Inquisition" symbol was there before its modern incarnation even arrived.

It is such a shame that the Inquisition is destined to be downsized. Just imagine how much Briala and Lavellan could have accomplished together!

The fact that Varric has made Lavellan a comte/ss increases the likelihood that s/he will take residence there or at least spend some time in the city, eventually. And that means s/he will meet Merrill.

How do you guys imagine that would go? With your characters, specifically.

That is an interesting take on it. I had my Lavellan become an atheist or agnostic at best because I figured that would be the natural conclusion. Perhaps maintain the regular Dalish rites and customs but strip them of any association with elven gods.

Huh. Do you happen to remember the quote where it is said they used to be benevolent gods? The only gradual change I remember being mentioned was their gradual rise to power.
Regarding Merrill and Solas, I can't help but feel like her reaction would be "Okay, but what if it doesn't destroy the world?  ". After all, she did support Janeka's plan to release and attempt to control Corypheus in the Legacy DLC.

Yeah, I'm generally excited about what Lavellan will do help the elves after Trespasser... EVEN IF WE'LL NEVER GET TO SEE IT  .

Ah, I'm sure Merrill will try to comfort her, but you know how clumsy she is with words . But perhaps it is enough to simply have someone willing to listen. And speaking of trauma, let's not forget that she is dealing with the fact that she lost her arm, which probably only adds to how stressed she is right now.

Okay fresh theory on the basis of an idea I was playing with on the "What will it take to change Solas' mind thread". Other people have also suggested that his close relationship with spirits might have some bearing on his plan. I can't help feeling that the ability to regenerate has some part to play in his plan. He has admitted that there will be wholesale destruction when he drops the Veil and whilst the world "burns in the raw chaos" he will reshape reality to bring back the world of the elves. Which begs the question, where are the elves going to come from to populate it?

One possibility is that he is going to use the Crossroads as a sort of sanctuary until it is over. Except the Crossroads is already slowly disintegrating, so would it survive the upheaval?

Another, is loading all the elves onto the floating aravels we have seen in some of the concept art. However, would that really work when reality itself is in flux? Also, what would stop other races from doing the same? The reaction of Charter to his assertion that the "elves who remain" might actually prefer the result, when she thought of her human lover who would not survive, would seem to show that would not be an option. The other races will perish.

I've mentioned in posts before how I wonder if he doesn't think the elves will survive in their current bodies but through their spirit? Then once he has reshaped reality, they will take on material forms again. This ties in with the idea that the ancient elves, or at least the most powerful ones, did seem to be able to shed their form at will and likely began as spirits that crossed over to the Waking World from the Land of Dreams, which was far easier when there was no Veil. The nature of spirits seemed to be different back then in that they embodied an idea or attribute, such as Wisdom or Valour, but didn't seemed limited to feeding off the emotions of mortals for their existence. There are various bits of lore that seem to tie in with this theory.

Solas' friend in "All New Faded for Her", returned to the Fade where energy started to reform in the area that the spirit used to inhabit. He says that eventually a new spirit of Wisdom will emerge but that it will not be his friend, in other words it will not remember who it once was.

The Avvar believe in reincarnation of favoured souls. These individuals will be reborn without conscious memory of their previous life but will get glimpses through their dreams.

When Solas says to a romanced Lavellan "I will never forget you", I wonder if this does have more meaning that "I will always remember our love". It is possible that he believes their spirit/soul will survive if he keeps remembering them.

When a "god"(spirit) has been in the world in an avatar form, when this is killed the god returns to the Fade, from where it can be called forth again in the future. This is what happened with Hakkon. The difference between this form of regeneration and that of Solas' friend is that the god spirit retains its identity. Is this because it did not simply have the identity of an attribute, the amount of time it spent as that individual personality or the fact that it was worshiped and thus remembered by other beings? Based off the evidence of Mythal, it may well be the latter. When her material body was killed, her spirit/soul returned to the Fade but she retained her memory of self precisely because the elves continued to worship her, many of them apparently unaware she was even dead. Solas also said that the reason he didn't just kill the other Evanuris is that it would not guarantee their permanent removal from existence. This is something to bear in mind when people talk of just killing him to prevent his plan. That might stop him in the short term but the threat from Fen'Harel would still remain and might even be greater since that is the aspect of him that is strongest in the Fade. This is why to "kill" Fen'Harel is likely impossible unless we confront his spirit in the Fade.

So those who want to "redeem" Solas need to find a flaw in his plan that means his belief that the elves will survive through their spirit forms is shattered. Clearly there would be no point in removing the Veil and reshaping the world if the elves were destroyed in the process.

I am also constantly drawn back to the idea introduced in Tevinter Nights that Solas was not his original identity and that he has a "true name", in other words his core state of being. It may be that he honestly believes that he was "Solas first" or alternatively he was playing with words as he often does and all he meant was that Solas came before Fen'Harel but that doesn't preclude there being some other identity before that. Either way, it may be necessary to reconnect him with that original identity/personality/attribute to deflect him from his purpose. It is that true self that a romanced Lavellan came close to recalling but Solas/Fen'Harel was stronger and convinced him that only by rejecting her and proceeding would he remain true to himself. Finding his true name may have the following results:

1. In some way it destroys his power, rendering him vulnerable to attack, although bear in mind my comments above about the necessity of defeating him in the Fade as well as the Waking World.

2. It destroys his conviction in the necessity and ultimate success of his plan. Remember he raised the Veil under the identity of Solas/Fen'Harel and Solas means Pride, which blinded him to the negative consequences of his action. By contrast, his "True Self" would immediately perceive the potential flaws and would have the humility to concede that it would be better to consider less destructive alternatives.

Essentially, though, whether we want to redeem him or simply stop him, we are going to have to defeat the persona of the Dreadwolf.

Fen'Harel Scented Candle in the BioWare Gear Store.

"THE SPIRIT OF FEN HAREL CARRIES ON

An evil god, the Great Betrayer or the Dread Wolf, Fen' Harel's called by many names. His actions in the past have caused unthinkable despair to the Forgotten Ones and the Gods who graciously considered him their own. A righteous mage who will do anything in his power to protect the Elven people, Fen Harel’s mysterious omnipotent presence seems to permeate throughout Thedas and beyond.

With this scented candle, we have recreated the Dread Wolf’s spirit in its woody, musky wonder. Coconut soy wax is hand poured into a 6oz glass tumbler that is printed with Fen' Harel's image. Light it up in the evenings and go back to the time when the roamer of the beyond was among us.

SCENT: sandalwood/myrrh/oak"

Somehow I find scented candles don't really go with the scary image that Solas was going for when he adopted the moniker of Fen'Harel.

Actually, come to think of it, perhaps that was the way he managed to entrap them all simultaneously. It wasn't the promise of a secret weapon to win the war (after all why would they believe him?). No, he was renowned for smelling of sandalwood,myrrh and oak.

"I smell him," declared Andruil. "He went this way. Quick, everyone follow me before it fades and we can finish him for good."

I don't know, that just doesn't feel right.  There's not a single wolf related item anywhere.  Where's the wolf jaw necklace?  Where's the strategically placed wolf fang?  Oooh, I know what would go with that outfit ... dangly wolf claw earrings.

Ok now that one is totally wrong and off base.  I can't believe someone would do that.  Hair ... and it's not even red?!

On a side note, I think the partnership between Briala and Lavellan is such a beautiful thing, especially when you consider the events of The Masked Empire.

Briala grew up admiring and fantasizing about the Dalish and then was faced with bitter disappointment at their indifference to the struggle of city elves. So just imagine how she must have felt when she did meet a Dalish elf who was willing to work with her.

Not only that, but a Dalish elf who is so much like herself. An elf with social status and influence, though obviously at a much larger scale.